My experience with their planned obsolescence has been with iOS exclusively. Their regular computer OS is no worse than Microsoft or anyone else. Apple’s own development tools erase previous versions, forcing app developers to abandoning old, working apps.
Here’s a rant from a developer who details the issue:
http://kanjibox.net/ios/blog/archives/2011/11/support-for-older-devices-running-ios-4-2-1-and-earlier/
I’m not saying Apple is alone in this, Canon is just as egregious when it comes to holding back operational modes on lower priced items that can be unlocked with firmware updates, but Apple does appear to be on a “you’ve used that device for two years, you should get a new one” track. Why else do replacement batteries cost half as much as the device itself? Because they are trying to encourage you to just spend that money on a new one.
